BlackRock 3Q2010 profit beats expectations up 31% compared to 3Q2009

Opalesque Industry Update - BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) today reported third quarter 2010 net income1
of $551 million, up $234 million from a year ago and up $119 million compared to second quarter 2010.
Operating income was $707 million and non-operating income, net of non-controlling interests, was $45
million. The operating margin was 33.8%, which included the effect of $17 million of costs related to the
successful launch of the $1.2 billion Build America Bond Trust and $6 million of integration costs associated
with the December 1, 2009 acquisition of Barclays Global Investors (“BGI”).

Third quarter net income, as adjusted2, was $2.75 per diluted common share, or $537 million, up 31%
compared to third quarter 2009 diluted EPS, as adjusted2, of $2.10 and up $0.38 compared to second
quarter 2010. Third quarter 2010 included operating income, as adjusted2, of $2.61 per diluted share and net
non-operating income, as adjusted2, of $0.14 per diluted share.

Third quarter net income includes a tax rate
benefit ($0.11 per diluted share related to first half of 2010) reflecting favorable tax rulings and resolution of
certain tax positions. Operating income, as adjusted2, of $737 million, which included $17 million of closed-
end fund launch costs, improved $337 million, or 84%, compared to third quarter 2009 and declined $4
million, or 1%, compared to second quarter 2010. Compared to a year ago, operating results reflect the
benefits of the BGI acquisition and improved markets. The operating margin, as adjusted2, for year-to-date
September 2010 was 38.7%, an expansion as compared to 37.4% in 2009.

Third quarter income and year-
to-date margin reflect positive business momentum, the benefits of our diversified business model and
continued investment in the business. Non-operating income, net of non-controlling interests, as adjusted2,
in the third quarter 2010 included gains of approximately $66 million as a result of higher valuations on co-
investments including private equity, distressed opportunistic funds as well as real estate equity products.

Assets under management (“AUM”) totaled $3.446 trillion at September 30, 2010, up $295.5 billion or 9%
during the quarter and $2.011 trillion or 140% year-over-year, including $1.756 trillion of acquired AUM net of
outflows due to manager concentration considerations and active quantitative performance (“merger-related
outflows”).

As discussed under “Third Quarter Business Highlights,” net new business during the quarter
totaled $50.1 billion, including $52.6 billion in long-term products and $1.8 billion in cash management,
partially offset by $4.3 billion of net distributions in advisory AUM. BlackRock Solutions® added 4 net new
assignments during the quarter, bringing the total for the year to 34 net new mandates. Investment
performance remained competitive across much of the platform, supporting new business efforts in all
regions. At October 15, 2010, the pipeline of net wins funded or to be funded totaled $46.1 billion, including
$40.7 billion in long-term products and $5.4 billion in cash management.
(press release)